This is typified by Talkysh Kaleve, a delicate combination of sugar, honey, and flour that melts in the mouth like cotton candy.
Indeed, Tatar desserts in general tend to feature plenty of sugar and honey. These stacked, deep-fried dough balls are drenched in honey, and often decorated with hazelnuts and dried fruit. Cakcakĭeep in western Russia lies Tatarstan, the federal republic home to the Tatars (the Muslim descendants of steppe nomads related to the Turks, many with Mongol heritage), and the city of Kazan, known as “Russia’s third capital.” Cakcak, often written phonetically as Chak-Chak, is the most famous Tatar sweet. If you’re curious, you can make some yourselves during a tour of Georgia. These colorful candies are omnipresent in Georgia, from roadside stands to devoted storefronts. Made of nuts (usually hazelnuts, or the walnuts popular in Georgian cuisine) threaded on a string, then dipped into thick, concentrated grape juice, making Churchkhela is a time-consuming process thanks to the many layers needed, but rewarding. Oft-described as “Georgian Snickers,” this popular and unique sweet resembles sausages or hand-dipped candles. Let’s start out with a distinct delight: Churchkhela.
